Composition of matter.



G.'W. ROWE &'G. A. HOWARD. oomrosn'xon or MATTER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 30I 1908.

937,869. Patented Oct. 26,1909.

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES TATEN T OFFICE.

sEoEGE w. ROWE AND, GUY A. HowAnn, ornmrron, vmem'm.

COMPOSITION OF MATTER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE -W. ROWE and GUY A. HOWARD, citizens of the United alum andglue in the manufacture o the States, and residents of Hampton, in the county of Elizabeth "City and State of Virginia, have made and inventedcerta'in new and useful Im rovements in-Composition of Matter, of which the following is a specifi-' cation.

Our invention relates to an improved material or composition from which to manufacture plaster boards, boxes, and other plaster products, the object of the. same being to provide such a composition as will insure to the articles made therefrom, lightness, toughness, strength and durability.

Withfthese and other ends in view, our composition designed for use as above consists of the following ingredients combined in substantially the proportions stated, vizz' Galcined plaster 75 per cent-., corn cobs shredded, 20 per cent., glue 211; per cent., alum.

2% per cent. The body of the composition or material, of course, is largely composed of the calcined plaster, thoroughly mingled with which is the shredded corn cobs. The latter acts as a binder for the laster,.in order to hold the particles thereof together, and being exceedingly light, reduces the weight of the finished article. Furthermore,

this material is exceedingly cheap, and by reason ofits roughened or irregular surfaces, affords an excellent binding means for the body of the material, insuring to the fin ished board a great amount of strength and toughness, permitting, as we .have found by' experiment, nails to be driven through the composition or. artficle formed therefrom with I little or no danger of cracking or injury.

The alum and glue thoroughly combine with the plasterwhen the parts are mixed with water, the alum tending to harden the composition and lend additional strength thereto, the glue assisting the shredded corn cobs in acting as a binder for the particles ofthe plaster filler.

For the purpose of holding the parts to--* gether, should the composition or material become broken or cracked, we may .em loy intermeshed string, twine, or hemp fi ers,

completely embedded in thecomposition, as.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed July 30,1908. Serial No. 446,042.

Patented 0a. 26, 1909.

we have found in ractice that the use of such is a material a vantage therein.

While, of course, we prefer to emplo the compositions as above described, as and for the purposes set forth, yet we would have it understood that such are not absolutely necessary, as' we have found that the material consisting of calcined plaster and shredded corn cobs may be employed with good results.

.The foregoing materials are of.cour.se, thoroughly mixed with the requisite amount ofwater to render the same plastic, and while in such condition, may be pressed, rolled, or otherwise formed into sheets or boards. If desired, the outer surfaces thereof nay be covered by apei', as is usually done in-the case of the p aster boards now in common use, and as shown in .the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a piece of plaster or-composition board constructed inaccordance with my invention, onecorner thereof being broken away for the sake of clearness. 1 Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof;

In the drawings, A represents the body thereof, formed of the materials or ingredients as above set forth, and containing intermeshed string or twine a, B-B representing paper covering the outer sides or surfaces thereof. 1

,While the board formed as above described, may 'be used with good effects without the paper, yet we prefer to. use the same, as it not only lends additional strength thereto, but also gives to the articlea neat and finished appearance...

- It will of course be understood that our invention is not in any way restricted to the article or articles into which the composition may be rolled,- pressed, or otherwise formed, the gist of our invention lying in the composition containing the ingredients, and in 2. The composition hereinabove described Elizabeth City' and State of Virginia this containin hgalioiingd plastfir, intermeshed 23d day of July A. D. 1908. twine an s e e corn 00 s. 3. A composition of matter, consisting of 5 calcined plaster, shredded corn cobs, alum and glue, in substantially the proportions Witnesses: name R. O. WINNE,

Signed at Hampton in the county of W. W.- LACKEY. 

